The Ultimate Planning Guide to Your Alaska Elopement
Elope in Alaska
Everything You Need to Know to Get Married in The Last Frontier State
An Alaska elopement can be whatever you want it to be – adventurous & wild, refined & elegant, or cozy & fun! From magnificent lodges to quaint minimalist cabins (give me an A-frame any day!), Alaska is the perfect place to plan an adventurous wedding or elopement to match your spirit. Plus, expansive national parks make this one of the most beautiful places to get married – would to get married on a glacier, or maybe take a heli-tour to the top of a mountain? Anything is possible for your Alaska Wedding! Keep reading to see more photos of Alaska, plus
Why You Should Get Married in Alaska
Steps to Planning an Alaska Wedding or Elopement
How to Elope in Alaska’s National Parks
Best Time of Year to Visit Alaska
My Favorite Alaska Venues
Alaska Photography Package
Why Alaska?
1. You love wild landscapes
Alaska is the definition of wild! The vastness of the landscape is almost incompressible, with nearly endless places to explore. If you love mountains, glaciers, lakes filled with icebergs, and wildlife so big you’ll feel minuscule in their midst - you’re going to love Alaska!
2. You want adventure
For all the reasons listed above, an Alaska elopement or wedding will be an adventure. A multi-day hiking elopement could take you out to an alpine lake without another soul in sight, or you could begin your day at an A-frame cabin and end your day with a sunset heli-tour that drops you off on a glacier – feeling like you’re on top of the whole world!
3. Multiple national parks to choose from
Alaska has 8 national parks: Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Denali National Park, Gates of the Arctic, Katmai National Park, Kenai Fjords, Kobuk Valley, Sitka National Historical Park, and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Below, I’ve outlined all the information you need to know about getting married in any of these incredible places!
4. You want a unique, authentic wedding experience
Does the idea of getting married between four walls make you a little queasy? Me too. I spend all my free time outdoors, why would I want to spend one of the most important days of my life inside?!
How to Plan an Alaska Wedding or Elopement
To plan an elopement here you first need to pick a date, then choose a location, then plan for the weather/climate/landscape. If you’re looking for help from someone who knows this place, please just send us a message. I’d be honored to help you plan your day – below, you’ll find all the information you need to elope in one of Alaska’s national parks, see our favorite larger wedding venues, and even a few of our favorite elopement spots.
How to get legally married in Alaska
In order to obtain an Alaska marriage license, you will need to submit an application to the Bureau of Vital Statistics (in person or by mail.). There is a three-day wait period after submitting your application and license fee of $60. Two witnesses and an officiant are also required for the wedding ceremony. For more information, visit the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics website.
Be prepared for the seasons
The farther north you go, the more extreme the daylight hours will shift from summer to winter. In Anchorage, summer solstice has approx. 19.5 hours of daylight, whereas the dead of winter has about 5 hours of low light on the horizon. Use the Alaska Daylight Hours calculator to figure out how much daylight you’ll have when you visit.
The summer months are definitely the most popular times to visit Alaska (June-September), but there is a charm to this state all times of year. The northern lights are usually only seen in the winter, for example. I’d avoid the spring because the melting snow turns to a slush that reveals all the nasty stuff that’s been stuck in ice - it’s just not pretty. Summer temperatures range from 60-80°F, and July tends to be the warmest. However, weather is wildly unpredictable in Alaska at all times of year, so be prepared for anything!
What does it cost to elope in Alaska?
Like everything else, it depends - you could choose a location with no permitting costs and keep your celebration within whatever budget makes the most sense for you. Or, you could marry in Sitka and the location itself would cost a few hundred (which is still much less than the average wedding venue costing thousands.)
Of course, every other detail of your day is totally subjective when it comes to price. You’ll be paying for attire, travel, a bouquet or decor, and food/drinks. The average elopement costs couples between $5,000-$15,000, which is MUCH cheaper than a traditional wedding.
Long story short: your Alaska elopement can cost as little as is practical to cover the bases, or as much as you want to have it all!
Steps to Planning An Elopement
1) CREATE A LIST OF YOUR PRIORITIES
The first thing you need to do is set your list of priorities. What is most important to you? Is it the venue, photographer, date, another vendor, or something else? Whatever is your first priority, make it happen! If that first priority to make this event perfect is a vendor—reach out to them asap!
For elopements, it’s standard to begin with booking your photographer. You really want to prioritize connecting with someone who you will enjoy inviting into this special moment. Often, I’m the only other person present for an elopement, and it’s very important to me that each couple I work with feels supported to be fully themselves.
2) CHOOSE A DATE
Book that top priority—venue, vendor, or other scheduling consideration. Choose a date and get it set! Once you’ve booking your top priority for a date, it’s time to start planning. You’ll be able to reach out to other vendors to check their availability, begin sending out save-the-date’s to any guests, and finalize so many other choices. It’s at this stage that you begin to find plans falling into place.
3) CHOOSE A CEREMONY LOCATION
This decision can be made anywhere in the planning stage. If you’re bringing guests, you’ll need to know your ceremony location earlier. If you’re eloping just the two of you, you can decide on this up until the days before! Of course, you’ll need to know a general location. But, for example, if you’re eloping on a hiking trail and want to choose the best spot based on what feels right in the moment, I am happy to be flexible.
4) RESERVE ANY BOOKINGS OR RESERVATIONS
Now it is time to make sure you have everything all set! A place to stay, your vendors, your travel arrangements, etc. You’ll also want to check up on any other permits that may be required, especially if you’re choose a ceremony location on public lands.
Olympic National Park does have a permitting system in place for weddings. However, I have spoken with the park rangers and multiple couples over the years who’ve been told you do not need a permit for a two-person elopement. You do need a permit if you plan to bring a group of guests along for the adventure, or if you want to do any kind of set-up. I recommend keeping it simple and letting the beautiful nature of the PNW act as your backdrop.
5) HAVE YOUR DREAM WEDDING!
You’ve done the leg work, properly prepared, settled all the details, and now all that’s left to do is get hitched! Your wedding is going to be gorgeous in such a beautiful place—I can’t wait to celebrate with you!
How to Elope in Alaska’s National Parks
National Park Wedding Permits
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
You can learn everything you need to know about getting a wedding permit for Wrangell-St. Elias HERE. But, I’ll also break down the process below.
When: Reach out no later than 6 weeks out from your event, but contacting the park ASAP is a good idea if your date is within the year.
How: Submit THIS FORM with information about guest count & any other details you have about your event (decor, vehicles, ceremony location, etc.), plus theapplication fee to:
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Mile 106.8 Richardson Hwy, PO Box 439
Copper Center, AK 99573
Attn: Special Use Permits
Cost: The special use permit for a Wrangell-St. Elias elopement is UNKNOWN. The park is currently (as of 2/10/2021) reevaluating their permitting costs.
Why: The cost of park permits go directly to park maintenance, and any event monitoring if that is required. This not only keeps the parks pristine, but it also keeps the guests safe. If we want to continue seeing the park as an optional wedding venue, we need to obtain the proper permits to ensure the land stewards can fortify the trails, engage in preventative restoration, and monitor the park.
Kenai Fjords National Park
You can learn everything you need to know about getting a wedding permit for Kenai Fjords HERE.
When: Apply for a permit no less than 14 days before your wedding date.
How: Submit THE FORM LINKED HERE with information about guest count & any other details you have about your event (decor, vehicles, ceremony location, etc.) Send the form and a $100 check made out to “National Park Service” to:
Office of Special Park Uses
Kenai Fjords National Park
P.O. Box 1727
Seward, AK 99664
Cost: The special use permit for a Kenai Fjords elopement is $100.
For more information: contact the Chief Ranger by email or (907) 422-0500.
Sitka National Historical Park
You can learn everything you need to know about getting a wedding permit for Sitka HERE.
If you’re at all unsure if your event qualifies as requiring a special use permit, contact the park using this address or number:
Special Use Permit Coordinator
Sitka National Historical Park
103 Monastery Street
Sitka, AK 99835
907-747-0110 phone
907-747-0144 fax
When: Apply for a permit at least 30 days before your wedding date.
How: Submit THE FORM LINKED HERE with information about guest count & any other details you have about your event (decor, vehicles, ceremony location, etc.) Send the form and a $200 check made out to “National Park Service.”
Cost: The special use permit for a Sitka National Historical Park elopement is $200.
Why: The park is a lovely maintained piece of land that offers recreational and historical value to visitors and community members alike - the cost of your permit directly goes to maintaining this pristine space.
Gates of the Arctic National Park
You can learn everything you need to know about getting a wedding permit for Gates of the Arctic HERE. You only need a permit for a wedding or elopement if there will be more than 12 people present and/or you’ll be setting up any kind of structure (like an arch).
When: Apply for a permit no less than 14 days before your wedding date.
How: Click the link here to EMAIL THE PARK to ask for a Special Use Permit.
Cost: The special use permit for a Gates of the Arctic elopement is $100.
For more information: contact the park at:
Permit Coordinator
National Park Service
Fairbanks Administrative Center
4175 Geist Road, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-3420
907-457-5752
Kobuk Valley National Park
No permit information listed, contact office at (907) 442-3890
Katmai National Park
No permit information listed, contact office at (907) 246-3305
Denali National Park
No permit information listed, contact office at (907) 683-9532
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
A permit is not required here. Please plan a minimalist ceremony that abides by all environmental considerations & recomendations.
Best Time of Year to Visit Alaska
As I’m sure you can imagine, it depends on the kind of weather you prefer. Though, personally, I think summer and fall are best for a lot of reasons!
September is my favorite month to visit Alaska. It’s not the height of summer anymore, so the sun sets at a somewhat more reasonable hour. As such, this makes September the best time of year to catch some northern lights. You can aim for dark skies in the winter and catch northern lights in the cold, but I think late summer is significantly more comfortable.
I currently have some dates available for this upcoming September, so reach out asap if you want to get on the calendar!
My Favorite Alaska Weddings Venues
Crow Creek Historic Gold Mine – Get married on the gorgeous grounds of a real working mine.
My Favorite Alaska Elopement Locations
Mount Healy – This 6-mile trail in Denali National Park comes to a gorgeous overlook, but isn’t for the faint of heart - elevation gain is 2,417. This hike is best accessed in the late summer months.
Portage Pass Trail – This 4.2-mile trail features a beautiful view of a lake and the surrounding mountains. Dog-friendly, and best accessed during the summer months.
Matanuska Glacier – This glacier is on private property, but can be accessed for a visitor’s fee of $30.
Hatcher Pass – There are multiple short hikes and drive-up overlooks along Hatcher Pass that would make a gorgeous backdrop for a small wedding or elopement.
Ready to plan your Alaska elopement? Reach out!
Now that you have a good idea how to elope in Alaska, it’s time to start planning! We’d love to help you figure out details, choose your perfect location, and explore with you - check out my current travel schedule to see when we’ll be in the area, or get on the calendar so we can put Alaska on our schedule!
